ABUJA, (Sundiata Post) – Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, has received commendations from oil sector experts over his policies which they say is transforming and restoring confidence in the country’s oil sector.
“Since his assumption of office, Baru has undertaken far reaching measures designed to sanitize the Corporation by instilling discipline, ensuring probity and accountability and zero tolerance to corruption among others, an industry analyst said.
“His vision of empowering the NNPC organs, particularly the NNPC retail, PPMC and Trading is aimed at ensuring good reforms”.
However, the industry analyst speaking under the condition of anonymity disclosed that the NNPC boss appears to be stepping on some powerful toes with the ongoing reforms hence, the move by those who prefer to maintain the status quo to petition the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to call Baru to order.
He revealed clandestine moves to frustrate the GMD in a bid to scuttle the Buhari administration’s agenda for the industry.
Baru’s opposition to wrongdoing has turned some powerful forces against him, he alleged.
“ The NNPC boss was given express directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to cleanse NNPC and its subsidiaries of inefficiency and corrupt practices.
“And judging from his action so far, it is very clear that Baru is determined to carry out that mandate to the letter,” a source at the NNPC Towers also said.
” NNPC is experiencing massive retail marketing through the expansion and empowerment of the Corporation’s retail company, the source added.
“Despite the enormous challenges, NNPC has for long been the sole importer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Since September 2016, its trading arm, particularly Duke Oil, has been keeping the country wet with products, particularly Jet A1 (Aviation Fuel), and Automated Gas Oil (AGO-Kerosene)”.
Per Second News gathered that Baru has mandated Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and Marine Division to put a robust mechanism in place to ensure steady and uninterrupted distribution of the products.
The crux of the problem Baru seems to be having is the effective and transparent manner by which the Corporation now trades Naphtha and fuel oil that some elements who were benefiting from the free allocation in the past are determined to break the system and revert to the old ways of doing business.
“These retrogressive elements have been writing petitions asking for the redeployment of the managing director of NNPC retail, PPMC and Duke Oil, the staff said.